Group Learning Support is our largest provision across the group, with a wider team of 300+ staff members all playing a critical part to our students that require educational support throughout their learning journey.   

Job title: Teaching Assistant

Salary: up to £12.40ph  

Contract type: FTC (August 2024 - July 2025) 

Location:  Woodlands Centre at Merrist Wood college 

Benefits: Term time only, Part time and Full-time opportunities available, Access to Learning Support Essentials training course  

Our centres are open from 8.30am - 4pm and 9am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday and therefore we expect our staff to be available to commit to these working hours over a minimum of 3 days per week. 

The Role: Teaching Assistants

Our teaching Assistants support the students with their learning and general wellbeing to ensure every student has the best opportunity to reach their full potential in a caring and safe environment. Where necessary this may include supporting with personal care needs from time to time as well as positive behaviour management adopting a tailored approach to the individual student.  

• Work in classes under the direction of tutors
• Support the tutor in monitoring, assessing, recording and reporting student’s progress according to the college policies, to monitor and foster student’s progress in all areas of learning.  
• As a teaching assistant you will: be able to provide support to students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities; some of which maybe complex. 
• Provide one-to-one or small group support to students with special educational needs.  

Woodlands Centre at Merrist Wood College provides a safe and secure learning environment for up to 35 students with complex learning difficulties including sensory impairment, physical difficulties, behaviour and medical conditions. We are looking for people with a kind, caring nature and a genuine interest in helping young people to thrive and achieve their individual goals. 

If you have a proven track record of working within the education sector, care industry or childcare, we would love to hear from you!  

The centre is a fun and lively place to work- and no two days are ever the same.

What do you need to be a successful Teaching Assistant at Activate Learning?  

• You will have good communication skills to be able to work with tutors to ensure the delivery of an effective programme of further education and to work as part of a co-ordination team.
• Be able to work on own initiative as well as getting involved with the team.
• Be flexible and adaptable  
• You will have a creative approach to motivating learners and an innovative approach to delivering support.
• Patience, empathy, and a genuine desire to support students with diverse learning needs.

Previous experience working with children or young adults as a teaching assistant is not essential but would be advantageous as would experience supporting children or adults with SEN.  

Who we are 

Activate Learning is a pioneering education group with a global reach, committed to transforming lives through our approach to learning.  

We see our employees as individuals, empowering them to make the right choices for their ambitions and careers. We value our people as vital to our continued success and aspire to a diverse, open and inclusive environment that provides the motivation for everyone to pursue their career goals and flourish. 

When you work for Activate Learning, you’re working for an organisation that provides you with the advantages of a large employer, a trusted partner in your career development, and a transformational way of working whilst also investing in building a community environment for everyone. 

Together, we will bring out the best version of yourself. 

Why work with the Activate Learning Group?

Here are some of our benefits:

• Enrolment into generous pensions schemes
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Excellent on-site facilities including free onsite parking, refectory facilities, Hair and Beauty salons
• An extensive Learning and Development programme with a range of CPD opportunities
• Specialised support and development for teaching staff
• Access to qualified coaches for all staff
• Leadership and Management development programmes
• Flexible working opportunities, where appropriate
• A comprehensive wellbeing programme including access to Westfield Health Cash Plan and Everymind app
• Mental Health support including access to Mental Health First Aiders
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee resource groups  
• Cycle to work scheme
• Refer a friend vacancy incentive
• Access to student discount programmes

Applicants should apply at the earliest opportunity; closed vacancies will prevent application form submission.

Applications are reviewed and shortlisted on a rolling basis, we reserve the right to interview, appoint and close adverts.

Activate Learning is committed to safeguarding and expect all our staff to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to undergo a DBS check at the appropriate level.

Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK, we do not sponsor work permits. Work permits from other organisations are unacceptable as proof of right to work in the UK.

Applications are encouraged from all candidates who meet or exceed minimum criteria, regardless of age, disability, gender, orientation, race, religion, or ethnicity. Activate Learning are committed to employing people with disabilities and will ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. If you require any reasonable adjustments either at application or interview stage, please contact the talent team directly.

Recruitment agencies who submit unsolicited CVs to any partner or employee at Activate Learning, have no authority to enter an arrangement. Recruitment agencies engaging with Activate Learning Talent Team will be on our PSL.